The show opens as baby wood ducks hatch and prepare to leave their nest. Their mother comes to greet them, then flies to the pond and calls. Whoa! She can fly but they must fall 70 feet to reach her! No wings, just the will to join their mother, and off they go. The first rule of a baby duck’s life: Mom calls, we follow.

The baby ducklings learn and grow. We see their tiny feet paddling underwater and slow motion video of their parents leaping from water into air. And wow! Their dad is beautiful!

That’s not all. Ruddy ducks make powerful dives using only their feet. South American torrent ducks master river rapids. Common eiders literally fly underwater to reach the ocean floor. And sprinkled throughout we meet the cutest baby birds on the planet — like this little redhead.

Watch An Original DUCKumentary on WQED, Wednesday November 14 at 8:00pm. If you’re outside WQED’s viewing area, check your local PBS listings.